Entrepreneurship and personal branding are closely linked – without a strong personal brand, life as an entrepreneur will be like swimming upstream.
ABC’s Shark Tank is a show in which entrepreneurs pitch their products (and in a way, themselves) to a panel of angel investors. The panel of sharks often deliver ruthless critiques, shredding apart a business plan with noticeable flaws. But, the entrepreneurs who blow the sharks away with a killer product or impressive personal brand are often handsomely awarded.
How does this relate to you?
Whether you are an entrepreneur or not, imagine the following scenario: You are a contestant on Shark Tank, yet you aren’t allowed to mention your business or product. You can only discuss your personal brand – the unique characteristics that define you, and the expertise that only you can bring. Keep in mind, the sharks want proof. Talking a big game isn’t going to net you a lucrative deal, you need facts and figures that shock and awe. How would you stack up, using the following personal branding “metrics”?
Blog/Personal Website
- Do you have one?
- How many comments do your posts receive? Engagement = interest.
- How many RSS subscribers does your blog have? Loyal readers are a testament to your content. (Here are a few ways to increase # of RSS subscribers)
- How many connections have you formed?
- How many recommendations have you received? These are pure gold when proving your worth in the business world. (More about Linkedin recommendations)
- How many “Best Answers” have you given to questions? Expertise and involvement, a major plus.
Twitter/Facebook
- What is your follower/friend count?
- More important, how often are you re-tweeted? @GuyKawasaki labels retweets as “the sincerest form of flattery”. A RT shows that your followers truly appreciate your content. (Here are a few tips on how to track your retweets.)
There are countless other facts and figures you might be able to refer to, but these listed above are near-necessities. How did you fare? Could you proudly stand in front of the sharks and rattle off impressive figures demonstrating your online presence and the value you add to your community?
If you are proud of your personal statistics, shout them out in the comment section below. What stats would you point to with pride?
“Shark” by Volk. “Numbers” by procsilas.
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